Improved snap-hook



IUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEO OYRUS W. SALADEE, OF NEVVABK, OHIO.

IMPROVED SNAP-HOOK.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, GYRUs W. SALADEE, of Newark, county of Lickin g, in the State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Oonstructin g Snap-Hooks for Horse-Equipage; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature ot' my invention consists, first, in that of attaching a guard-plate to the loop end of the body of the snap in such manneras to cover and completely protect the spring oi the snap, and to prevent the ring on which it may be snapped from coming in Contact with the spring in such position as to unsnap it when in use; and, second, in that ot' securing or riveting the rear or butt end of the spring to the under side oi' the said guard-plate.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a top view of the snap with the guard-plate A connected. Fig. 2 is a side view in section of the same.

The guard-plate A may be stamped from a sheet of suitable metal or cast separate from the main body B of the snap and attached by rivating or otherwise. The manner of forming the plate A separate and attaching the same to the body of the snap is necessary only when the body B of the snap is wrought of iron, as in a wrought-iron body, B, of the snap it cannot be formed solid thereon with any degree of economy; but where the body of the snap is designed to be cast, as shown iu the drawings, the plate A or its equivalent should invariably be cast solid with it.

The rear end ot' the snap B is parted in the center from about .one inch from the loop-hole O, as shown by the red dotted lines D D, thus forming an open space between the prongs D D, through which the rear end of the spring S passes, and is secured to the bottom side of the guard-plate A by means of the rivet X.

The spring S is operated by pressing the thumb upon its top surface immediately in front of the guard-plate A.

The idea ot'rivetin g or otherwise securingthe rear end ofthe spring S to the bottom (or top) side of the guard-plate A or its equivalent, and not to the main body ot' the snap, I cla-im to be entirely original, and radically different from any other known manner of doing the same.

While the main object of the plate A is to serve as a gua-rd and protection for the spring S, as hereinbefore shown and described, it is at the same time intended to serve the purpose of ornamentation, and thereby divest the ordinary snap ot' its proverbial rudeness or" appearance.

The form orstyleofthis gu ard-plate A is not to be limited to the design shown in the drawl ings, as I purpose forming them of any design which the fancy may suggest. It may be made to represent a heart, as shown, aharp, shield, eagle, or it may be the form ot' a ring or of a buckle. For the ine class of snaps, this guardplate A, ot' whatever form it may be, I intend shall be neatly plated in order to make the iigure it represents appear the more prominent.

Now, what I claim aslnew of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

I. The guard-plate A,vwhen secured to the rear end of the snap B and protecting the spring S, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as shown and described.

2. Biveting the spring S to the under side of' the guard-plate A, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as'shown and described.

OYRUS YV. SAIIADEE.

Witnesses:

JAMES WHITE, MARTIN FATE. 

